Canada City Guide
The French held onto their colony until 1760, when Montreal fell to the British, whose influence can be felt in the architecture of the beautiful 19th-century mansions and such institutions as the Museum of Fine Arts and McGill University. French resentment at the English dominance in their economic affairs was one of the factors leading to the ‘Quiet Revolution’ of the 1950s and 60s, culminating in the October Crisis in 1970 and the referendums on sovereignty in 1980 and 1995. As a result, French has become prevalent in the workplace and a number of Québécois companies are active in worldwide markets. Some 67% of the inhabitants claim French as a mother tongue, making Montréal the second most populous French-speaking city in the world. But Montreal is also home to a cosmopolitan mix of immigrants from around the globe, all of whom contribute to the rich cultural heritage and lively atmosphere of the city. This is never more evident than during one of the frequent large-scale festivals celebrated in downtown Montreal, notably the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, when tens of thousands of revellers fill the streets each day. The charming buildings of Old Montreal, which was the heart of the city until the end of the 19th century, are today filled with boutiques, bars, hotels and restaurants. Montrealers and visitors alike promenade along the adjacent Old Port.
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